Asia Pacific CFO survey 2025

In New Zealand and across Asia Pacific, chief financial officers (CFOs) are playing an increasingly fundamental role in driving organisational transformation in a dynamic business environment.

Throughout the region, businesses are shifting focus from cost control to prioritising growth and long-term value creation. Deloitte's second annual Asia Pacific CFO survey and findings report offers unique insights into the regional finance landscape.

About the survey

Over 460 respondents representing diverse industries and organisations across Asia Pacific engaged in the survey. Findings show this group of CFOs intends to focus on the following three strategic objectives for the year ahead:

• Seeking innovative growth strategies
• Improving operations and talent management, and
• Enhancing resilience to manage against risk and uncertainty.

New Zealand insights

For the first time, New Zealand CFOs contributed to the survey, adding a fresh perspective to the regional insights.

The survey shows New Zealand CFOs commenced the year with cautious optimism, with 80% of organisations intending to prioritise performance improvement, strategy execution and emphasis on investing into digital transformation throughout 2025 and beyond.

Other key focus areas for New Zealand CFOs include:

• Prioritising M&A, joint ventures, and alliances, with an expected increase in deal activity in the next three years
• Focusing on embedding automation and digital technologies in operations
• Leveraging digital transformation to free up people for higher value activities while also upskilling and reskilling talent, and hiring more staff
• Anticipating generative AI to transform industries within three or more years
• Expecting AI to create value through workforce productivity and cost savings, with concerns about talent resources and competing priorities
• Incorporating ESG considerations into operating models, with challenges including competing priorities and limited budget

If you would like to discuss the findings, please reach out to one of our leaders.